Cartoon Network to showcase 'Foster's home for Imaginary Friends'

Media release, March 7, 2005

New Delhi

Cartoon Network offers a delightful treat to its viewers this March! The kids’ entertainment channel brings to you the latest, original animated series from Cartoon Network Studios - Foster’s Home For Imaginary Friends! Craig McCracken, the creator of the Emmy® Award Winning series The Powerpuff Girls, brings you a new world of whimsical fun and adventure that you are sure to enjoy! It is a character-based comedy that talks about the wonderful bond of friendship and how much fun one can have in the company of their best buddies. The series features eminent theatre personality, Tom Alter, as voice of the Administrator of Foster’s Home – Mr. Herriman. This initiative is reiterative of the Network’s localisation strategy and its commitment to bring quality-animated programmes to cartoon lovers in India.

Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends is a rambling Victorian mansion that serves as a haven for imaginary friends who are no longer needed by their former owners. The eccentric Madame Foster is the matriarch of the home, who shows her unyielding love of all imaginary friends by housing, feeding and providing emotional support to them while helping to match them with new kids.

When quizzed about the rationale behind creating the character of an Imaginary Friend, Craig said, “I asked myself the reasons a kid would create an Imaginary Friend…and I learnt that they would create a friend who would be a protector, a companion to hang out with, a friend out of loneliness or a scapegoat to blame everything on! So, by taking these basic motivations, we then created many of the characters for Foster’s.”

The Foster’s series revolve around Mac, an eight-year-old shy boy, who always has his faithful imaginary friend, Blooregard Q. Kazoo a.k.a. Bloo, by his side. Both are so fond of each other that Mac spends most of his time with Blooregard Q. Kazoo and other interesting real and imaginary characters. Blooregard Q. Kazoo does the things that Mac wishes he could if he wasn’t so shy and Blooregard Q. Kazoo needs Mac in order to control himself. Interestingly, they are part of the same person because Mac created Blooregard Q. Kazoo from his mind, together they are almost like one whole character.

Trouble begins when Mac’s mum tells him that he’s too old for an imaginary friend and Mac is forced to give Blooregard Q. Kazoo up. Blooregard Q. Kazoo then goes to Madam Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends. Mac makes a deal with Madam Foster that Blooregard Q. Kazoo will not be adopted by a new child and he would come to visit Blooregard Q. Kazoo everyday. And from thereon, he enters a unique world…the world of imaginary friends and special adventures!

Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends is McCracken’s highly anticipated follow-up to Cartoon Network’s most successful animated project, The Powerpuff Girls. So, toon-in to Cartoon Network on March 7, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. to unravel the mysteries of an imaginary world.

Launched in India in 1995, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s (TBS) Cartoon Network is the leading kids’ entertainment channel, reaching more than 22 million viewers.

Currently available in English, Hindi and Tamil languages, Cartoon Network India is the only international kids channel to acquire locally produced programming like Pandavas – The Five Warriors, Sinbad – Beyond The Veil of Mists, Ramayan – The Legend Of Prince Ram, The Adventures of Tenali Raman, Alibaba & Forty Thieves, The Adventures of Chhota Birbal and Jungle Tales. Cartoon Network has also launched successful, innovative, and integrated on-ground events, such as Toon Cricket, Toon Yatra, Next Big Toon, School Is Cool, Save Dexter’s Brain, etc.

Turner Broadcasting System Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment products around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.

For further information, please contact:

Deepti Mathur

CMCG India Pvt Ltd

Tel: 011-29216470-73